blacksky Turn-Around Challenge
LDRS 25
The blacksky Turn-Around Challenge (bTAC) harkens to the
X-cup requirement to re-fly the same spacecraft in less than two
weeks. bTAC is a timed
event that starts from the first launch attempt through recovery,
preflight, and the second successful launch. There are three classes that
correspond to Tripoli Certification levels and a series of point
multipliers relating to the complexity of the system.
It is hoped that this competition will promote the idea of
testing and detailed design of the rocket systems to simplify and
streamline the processing of our rockets. Detailed procedures, team work,
and practice will be the keys to winning this competition. Think NASCAR pit crews for
your inspiration. Good
design and planning will win this competition.
RULES:
1.
There are three Classes of bTAC
competition:
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Level 1, H – J motors, the rocket must attain a
Target Altitude of at least 4,000 feet AGL.
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Level 2, K – L motors, the rocket must attain a
Target Altitude of at least 9,000 feet AGL.
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Level 3, M and above motors, the rocket must
attain a Target Altitude of at least 13,000 feet AGL.
2.
The winner in each bTAC class will have the
LOWEST point score in class.
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There will be awards for First, Second, and
Third place in each class. A total of 9 awards will be
made.
3.
The bTAC Basic Timing Score (BTS) starts at the
first launch attempt and stops at the second launch.
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The BTS is one point for each second between the
first launch to the second.
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Each launch is valid only if ALL recovery and
system elements are present and function as designed. This will be verified post flight
by a blacksky appointed judge.
4.
Altitudes must be measured by on-board
altimeters with Altitude Points (AP) added or subtracted from the
BTS.
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A penalty of 1 point is ADDED to the BTS for
every 50 feet BELOW the minimum altitude in each class to achieve
the Total Timing Score (TTS).
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A bonus of 1 point is SUBTRACTED from the BTS
for every 50 feet ABOVE the target altitude to achieve the
TTS.
5.
The SAME rocket must be flown for the bTAC
competition. That
means that the motor casing, fins, airframe, nose cone,
parachute(s), recovery devices, electronics, payload, etc. used in
Flight 1 MUST be used in Flight 2.
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If changes are made from Flight 1 to Flight 2
because of loss or damage, Penalty Points (PP) of 300 points will
be added to the BTS for each change.
6.
Multipliers are applied to the TTS as
follows:
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No multiplier for motor ejection recovery,
or
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0.75 Complexity Multiplier (CM) for electronic
main at peak ejection, or
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0.50 CM for electronic drogue at peak and main
at low altitude.
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An additional 0.75 Payload Multiplier (PM) will
be applied for a payload that records and/or transmits data (other
than acceleration and barometric altitude), images, video,
etc. Payload data,
images, video, etc must be complete from launch to peak altitude
and a complete record of this data must be downloaded and processed
between flights.
Scoring Examples:
Total Score = ((BTS ± AS + PP) x CM) x PM
- Class 1, motor ejection only (no
multiplier), BTS of 1200 seconds (20 minutes), altitude of 5400
feet (200 feet over/50 = subtract 8 points for greater altitude),
everything is intact.
Total Score of 1200 - 8 = 1192.
- Class 1, drogue to main (CM of 0.50),
BTS of 2100 seconds (35 minutes) altitude of 4900 feet (100 feet
under/50 = add 2 points for lower altitude), everything is intact.
Total Score of (2100 + 2) x 0.50 = 1051.
- Class 2, main only (CM of 0.75), BTS of
3000 seconds (50 minutes) altitude of 12,600 feet (3600 feet
over/50 = subtract 72), lost motor casing (add 300 PP). Total Score (3000 – 72 + 300) x
0.75 = 2421
- Class 3, drogue to main, Timing Score
of 6000 seconds (1 hour 40 minutes) altitude of 16,500 feet (3,500
feet over/50 - subtract 70 points), video transmitter with good
data (PM of 0.75), everything is intact. Total Score of ((6000-70) x 0.50)
x 0.75 = 2224
